Staying Healthy this Holiday Season

December 02, 2016

By: Janine Dilger

‘Tis the season.

This is a difficult time of year for our physical and mental health, not to mention the waistline. Thanksgiving is a mere week behind us and Christmas looms large on the horizon: a little more than three weeks and counting.

Family dinners, holiday parties and open houses characterize the diet-busting month between November 25 and December 25. Throw in some baking and frenzied shopping and you have a recipe that spells weight gain and stress.

To make matters worse, for most of us, the time in between eating and drinking events is usually spent at our desks working, or behind a computer screen helping Santa out with a little online shopping.

So, how do we combat the assault on our well-being over the holiday season?

Science tells us over and over again that moving our bodies regularly is the best way to combat a whole range of ailments, from weight gain and chronic health issues to mental health issues, such as stress and depression.

So, it’s no surprise then that walking—and exercise in general—is among the top tips for reducing holiday stress.

“One of the best ways to overcome stress during the holidays or any other time is to exercise regularly,” writes Connie Bennett at Psychologytoday.com. “Research shows that physical activity not only boosts your fitness and energy levels but can also elevate your moods.”

The article, written back in 2009, is perhaps even more relevant today in light of a slew of recent studies that highlight how sedentary work lives and lifestyles are so detrimental to our overall health and well-being.

The holiday season just compounds the problem. And, if you’re tempted to cut regular exercise and movement out of the equation in an attempt to simplify your life, think again.

According to a study from scientists at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, “Despite the many demands on your time, this is not the season to stop exercising. When regular exercisers are inactive, they begin to feel depressed and fatigued after just one week.”

The good news is that research has found that regular workouts and movement can actually boost your mood for up to 12 hours, and the list of physical benefits is even more impressive.

If we’re being realistic here, the holiday social calendar isn’t one we’re likely to forego. But with a little strategy in place, we can certainly make sure it’s a holiday to remember, for the right reasons.

Get moving. Walking regularly is the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your health—both mental and physical.

And let’s face it, the best gift you can give this holiday season is a healthier, happier you.

The WalkTop Treadmill Desk by Fitneff allows you to incorporate movement into your day at work or at home. Stay active this holiday season with the WalkTop, or give one as a gift to someone you love.

About Janine Dilger

Janine Dilger is the Calgary-based Director of Communications at Fitneff Inc. Fitneff is dedicated to providing innovative products and solutions that help busy people make their productive time more active. The WalkTop by Fitneff allows you to incorporate movement into your day at work or at home.

Email: info@fitneff.com

@walktop

Share:

Also in WalkTop™ News

Today, on International Women’s Day, I have chosen to profile Laurel Walzak, the female co-founder of Fitneff Inc. Laurel has been successful in so many areas of her career - first as a trailblazer in the sports business industry, then as an entrepreneur and most recently as an Assistant Professor of Sports Media at Ryerson University.

Laurel also spends a great deal of her time and energy outside the office in efforts to advance the careers of young women who are making their start. I asked Laurel some important questions about the role of women in business, and the role that she plays in advocating for other women in her life.

You could say that Jim Wachtel occupies a front-row seat in the corporate health and wellness industry. And, because of his job as a health care cost-containment strategist, he spends a lot of time in that seat, whether it’s in his office, in his car, or on an airplane travelling for work.

Now, he's literally taking steps toward better health without compromising his productivity. Read how he's no longer sitting down on the job with the Walktop Treadmill desk by Fitneff.

About Fitneff

Fitneff™ is dedicated to creating active solutions for productive lives, making it easier to add daily activity into your busy schedule. We are proud to put our name on the WalkTop™ and we know you'll be proud to display it in your home or office.